Things to do in Anna Maria Island in 2026
Most days on the island start at the water. You can join a dolphin or sunset cruise, paddle a kayak at Robinson Preserve, fish from a pier, or spend the day at one of the public beaches and ride the free trolley back. The tours below show live availability, and the sections after them explain the choices on the island itself.
Two public beaches anchor a visit. Manatee Public Beach is at 4000 State Road 64 and Gulf Drive in Holmes Beach and is open from sunrise to 10:00 p.m. Coquina Beach is at 2650 Gulf Drive in Bradenton Beach and is open from sunrise to sunset. Both have restrooms, showers, a parking lot and a trolley stop.
Our picks: tours on and around Anna Maria Island
Evening boat trips and sunset paddles are the classic things to do here, and the island itself is small enough to combine one of them with a beach day. Choose the clear-kayak tour at Robinson Preserve if you prefer a quiet mangrove setting, and parasailing if you want something faster.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide and Viator. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Parasailing trip from Bradenton Beach
- 8 to 10 minutes of parasailing
- Coast Guard captain and crew
About an hour in total, of which eight to ten minutes are spent in the air above the water. The necessary equipment is included.
Check availability →
Clear-kayak ecotour at Robinson Preserve
- Guided two-hour tour
- Experienced guide
- Safety equipment
A guided paddle in a see-through kayak through the preserve's waterways, a good option if you like looking below the surface.
Check availability →
Guided island kayak tour from Bradenton Beach
- Guided 2.5-hour paddle
- Kayak, paddle, life jacket
A longer guided paddle than most, starting right in Bradenton Beach, with a briefing before you set off.
Check availability →
Two-hour dolphin-watching boat tour
- Two-hour boat tour
- Captain and guide
A boat tour with a captain and a guide who look for dolphins along the island. Wild animals cannot be promised on any trip.
Check availability →
Guided sunset kayak tour from Bradenton
- Guided eco tour
- Sit-on-top kayaks and gear
- Wildlife and history talk
A paddle at dusk with a guide who explains the local wildlife and history, after a short briefing. Dolphins are possible but not promised.
Check availability →
Sunset dolphin boat tour from Holmes Beach
- Experienced guide
- Sunset departure
A two-hour evening boat trip with a guide who looks for dolphins around the island. Arrive 30 minutes early, and remember that sightings are not guaranteed.
Check availability →Anna Maria Island tours and activities
Dolphin and sunset cruises, kayak tours, fishing charters and more, with live prices and availability.
On the water
Boats, kayaks and fishing lines are the island's main activities.
Dolphin and sunset cruises
A public sunset cruise costs about $45 to $50 per person for around 2 hours, so check the current price when you book. Wild dolphins and manatees may show up, but nobody can promise a sighting.
Dolphin tours →Kayaking and paddle boarding
Robinson Preserve in Bradenton has mangroves, a kayak launch and more than 3 miles of paddling routes. Leffis Key Preserve is closed for now.
Kayaking →Fishing
Visitors aged 16 and over need a Florida saltwater license, from $17 for 3 days. The Bridge Street Pier in Bradenton Beach is the fishing pier to plan around.
Fishing →On the beach and on land
Beaches, a historic village and a free ride along Gulf Drive.
Coquina, Cortez and Manatee Public Beach are the beaches with professional lifeguards. Flags tell you the conditions: double red means the water is closed to the public, single red means high hazard, yellow medium, green low hazard with caution, and purple warns of dangerous marine life. A missing flag is not a safety all-clear. Read more on the beaches page, or go straight to Coquina Beach.
In Bradenton Beach, the Bridge Street Pier has a shaded pavilion, public restrooms and a floating day dock. Cortez is a historic fishing village whose historic district has been on the National Register since 1995. The Florida Maritime Museum there is closed for building rehabilitation, so do not plan a museum visit. The Bradenton Beach page covers the town and Cortez.
The trolley is the easiest way to link all of this. Route 5 runs along Gulf Drive between the City Pier stop and Coquina Beach, and it costs nothing. See the trolley page for hours.
Island trips and nature
Two places that need a boat or a short drive.
Egmont Key
A wildlife refuge with a lighthouse built in 1858 and the ruins of Fort Dade. Buildings are closed.
Robinson Preserve
More than 600 acres in Bradenton with trails, towers and a kayak launch.
City Pier and Rod and Reel Pier
Both are closed. See what has changed and where to fish instead.
What is closed or being rebuilt
The island is open, but these places are not.
| Place | Status in autumn 2026 | What to do instead |
|---|---|---|
| Anna Maria City Pier | New access walkway finished, work on the pier head continues. Goal is November, with the end of 2026 as the wider target. | Fish from the Bridge Street Pier |
| Rod and Reel Pier | Original pier destroyed in 2024, no fixed rebuild date | Bridge Street Pier, or the beach |
| Leffis Key Preserve | Closed because of hurricane damage | Robinson Preserve |
| Egmont Key buildings | Park open since August 12, 2026, all buildings closed | Beaches and the lighthouse from outside |
| Florida Maritime Museum, Cortez | Closed for building rehabilitation | Walk the village on your own |
For most visitors, the plan is simple: a morning at Manatee Public Beach, a ride on the trolley, and a sunset cruise in the evening. Add Robinson Preserve if you want a paddling day on the mainland side.
Longboat Key next door
The island to the south has its own character.
Longboat Key lies just across Longboat Pass, which you cross on SR 789, and it belongs to the same stretch of Florida's Gulf Coast. This guide stays on Anna Maria Island. For the mainland city to the south, see Sarasota.
Events change from year to year, so check local listings for Anna Maria Island events on your dates before you plan around one. Once you know when you travel, the weather page and the accommodation page help with the rest.
Things to do on Anna Maria Island: frequently asked questions
What is there to do on Anna Maria Island besides the beach?
You can take a dolphin or sunset cruise, paddle at Robinson Preserve, fish from the Bridge Street Pier, ride the free trolley, visit Cortez and take a boat trip to Egmont Key. Each has its own page on this site.
Is the trolley really free?
Yes. Route 5 is free for all riders and runs every day from 6:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. The passenger ferry is a separate service that you pay for.
Can I visit the Anna Maria City Pier now?
Not yet. The new access walkway is finished and work on the pier head continues. The goal is November 2026 and the end of the year at the latest. Check the current status before you make plans around it.
Which beach has lifeguards?
Coquina Beach, Cortez Beach and Manatee Public Beach. Bean Point does not, so do not treat it as a guarded family beach.
What are the beach opening hours?
Manatee Public Beach is open from sunrise to 10:00 p.m. Coquina Beach is open from sunrise to sunset unless signs say otherwise. Both have restrooms, showers, parking and a trolley stop.